Next-Gen Honda Civic to be Developed by Honda North America

The next-generation Honda Civic coupe and sedan will be primarily developed by Honda’s North American team, Erik Berkman, president of Honda R&D Americas, has announced. Speaking at the Center for Automotive Research Briefing Seminars in Michigan, Berkman said the North American team will lead development for the U.S.-spec Honda Civic we can expect in the 2017 or 2018 model year.

"I am pleased that a team of engineers in America will have a major responsibility for the development of the next-generation Civic," Berkman said in his speech. "We've got a pretty good track record with the Civic…starting with the 1993 Civic Coupe. ...Now, we will take on the larger challenge of leading development for the next-generation Civic sedan and coupe for this market."Creating a new and improved Civic will be the latest challenge for the American R&D team, which is also playing a significant role in the creation of the new Acura NSX supercar. Previously, the team helped engineer the 2006 Civic coupe, which was part of the compact car lineup that became our 2006 car of the year. Here's what we said about it:

"Honda deserves a standing ovation for not playing it safe again, for crafting a compact car that's edgier and more soulful than it needs to be. The automotive joy that Honda Motor Company was founded on radiates from these new Civics."

Many Honda fans felt the redesigned 2012 Honda Civic did exactly what the 2006 model avoided – play it safe. Before the American team leads the design of the next-generation Civic, though, Honda is addressing the wrongs critics found in the U.S.-spec 2012 Honda Civic. The new compact sedan and coupe were just introduced last year, but Honda is already planning a refresh possibly for the 2013 model year, with improvements to the interior and exterior.

“While [the 2012 Honda Civic] received some mixed reviews, our customers have made it the best-selling compact car in America this year,” Berkman said. “Still, our goal is not to be best-selling...our target is best.”One of the team's first successes was the 1993 Civic coupe. Berkman notes that 30 percent of the automaker’s North American lineup was developed here. Taking that into consideration, we don’t see why the team couldn’t bring forth a groundbreaking next-generation Civic that wowed us as much as the 2006 Civic. While the upcoming refreshed Honda Civic will be on the streets before long, we'll just have to patiently wait and see what Honda's North American R&D has in store for the next-generation model.Source: Honda

That old Civic had sport car genes (the model with the double wishbone suspension up front). That model was softened up to appeal to the mundane which was in odds with it's expensive race car genes. However, the suspension/chassis on the old Civic made it an ideal platform for the enthusiast to modify the car and add sophisticated performance upgrades which realized the car's true potential. Honda tried to capture this market, but the aftermarket performance shop did a better job.

It was only natural that the bean counters at Honda would follow the masses and remove the expensive suspension configuration and build something that was less expensive to manufacture but would offer more to the regular masses. Once the new Civic was released, which did not have the double wishbone suspension system, Honda quickly lost it's following of enthusiast and the new Civic no long became a good platform for performance enhancement.

So, now you know what made the old Civic great, and caused the Civic Nation movement and encourage the street race car scene and a lot of name calling between riced-up Civics vs American muscle car. But it was fun and it but Honda in the spotlight. Sadly, those days are over. I'm positive, that my old 98 Civic Hatch, which was heavily modified, would bring a bigger smile to my face then the current Subaru Brz. That was a great car...

How does Honda re-capture it's old glory? I don't think it can. However, they can try to bring back the poor man's sport car, and have and cheap version of the Civic but, with performance upgrades (including the mechanical limited slip differential). Or, they can go high end, and try to out-do Hyundai/kia at their own game and offer more interior amenities and and quieter ride. I wouldn't go that route.. but, it'd be interesting to see what Honda comes up with. They've been stagnating for too long.

Hate to tell you, but money talks so your gonna get another epic FAIL! The masses have spoken, they want cheap transportation first with style & quality taking a back seat. The Civic is now just a cheap chics car ( minus the Si )!

What's next? A virtual digi-speedo and tach?...I'll take a traditional REAL needle speedo and tach please. Oh, and please do away with the ugly two-tier, it's just weird and confusing. Are you listening, Honda?

For one the next Civic needs more engine, at least 2.0 and 2.5 liter Direct Injection for next generation with hp from 160-200, 7 speed manual or 7 speed automatic to keep the MPG at bay (no CVT cept for the hybrid model please), which should be at least 30-40 mpg, averaging at least 37 mpg. Next, do make the car slightly larger to compete with the already large in class Hyundai Elantra (which will be redesigned by 2017 again also) and most importantly, add a decent amount of sound insulation (driven a Civic, they are noisy) and a high quality interior without a MYFord Touch like setup, and I think the next Civic can be a winner. Otherwise, the Civic will lose more ground to the Cruze, Focus, Elantra and upcoming Sentra and 2014 Kia Forte. ( I do not mention Corolla here cause it doesn't compare to these cars here, in my mind, it competes with itself and until Toyota can reinvent the Corolla like Hyundai did with the Elantra, it will sell on brand only) Overall, maybe Honda needs to reinvent themselves much like Kia did, if it worked well for Kia, why not Honda?

you called him/her out for using the J-word (which is derogatory, and i've posted that before myself) yet your name/title is "americans don't know how to design small cars". buzz off! if you don't like it, leave the country! ugh.

If Consumer Reports gave the new redesigned '12 Civic a big epic FAIL.......it should be a wake up call for Honda. What I'm hoping for is a more cohesive interior, with proportional air vents and a nice tradtional tach and speedo. PLEASE get RID OF THE DIGITAL SPEEDO!!!....That should have died along with the Ford Taurus of the 80s!....It's about time Consumer Reports called the Honda out on the Civic, btw. I think it's equivalent to the Emperor's New Clothes...where CR dares to cry FOUL in spite of all the blind following praise of the Honda faithful. Oh, this better be good, this time around. There's just so many other choices these days.

I feel better already. I though the Civic was going to look like a Cavalier or an Escort. If anything Honda should setup a California design studio (where many style minded immigrants live) or a European design studio. I guess this is better than a foreign worker bees telling their Detroit bosses what's needed in a small car.
And don't use the word "jap"... it's derogatory A-hole. I"m not too egotistical to admit that some countries do some things better. When roads are tight and oil expensive u get good at design small cars.
Of course we know the Civic has been the biggest flop in auto small car history... a disaster... Can't imagine how it made it to it's 9th generation. Welcome to the alternate reality... it's very entertaining.

You got that right. Honda got the most recalls last year, I wonder if Ford will take the honors this year. Sad too - their cars look decent. Much better than anything from the H brand in the last 5 or so years.

Having worked for and with both American Honda and Honda of America, allow me to translate: "North American team" means American engineers/designers (workers) who have to answer to a jap boss (queen bee). The queen will tell the workers what they want, and the workers will have to make it happen. Any "design" won't strive far from the current "design". Don't expect too much good stuff y'all.

DARIUS,
if i,m right you must be talking about giving it to Honda?
But if i,m wrong you must be talking about giving it to the company that use to make Corsica, or Cavalier, or are you talking about the one that use to make Escort, i forgot you must be talking about the one that you to make EXCEL.
Honda has had the Civic for 35 yrs, and all other companies have gone through 3-4 different name changes to come close , but there is no company out there that can build a better Civic.

My question is: what may I expect about next-gen Civic? We expect something better than current one, but coming from Honda, I really doubt it. I learned in High School that people should always keep positive attitude, but in this case... Honda lost that attitude few years ago and they still keep in negative form, so it'll be lame again.
-Mönst-

I'm a big Ford guy and I love the Focus, but even I would rather buy Civic. I test drove both (both 2012 models) and yes, Focus drives better, has a better built quality, it's more fun to drive, but one Civic will last longer than Focuses, not to mention better resale value Civic will have in a long run.

Autobug2 is probably right, but
I think it'll still be out later this year..
Its just to early to announce.
We just saw the new Honda Accord..
so a refreshed civic might appear around mid September, November.

No one cares what these Detroit fanboys here think about Hondas or the name of Honda's new engine family... like that has anything to do with the specs.
On another topic:
This is good for jobs and investment, but I'm concerned. I think they might mess up the Civic.
But, I never cared for the 93 Civic coupe. The proportions were off imo. super low hood and super high rear deck... it was too much and yet surface treatment was as bland as could be.. like a Cavalier's. The following gen coupe was nicer looking and more practical to live with... much more tasteful.
The 96 sedan looked better than the 96 coupe too.
Also who cares what MT things either... This article seems to make much of their opinion... they don't have a great track record of picking winners either. I told u the new Civic would sell well and is better than the old one in every practical way, in this very practical segment... and it's the best seller.

bb i gotta agree.Ford is crap and regardless of the biased american media proclaiming it the best,the sales don't reflect it.reminds me of the song don't belive the hype.in this case the bullshit american hype.! Ford is shit and will build shit for the next generation and idiots like dequindre or whatever will proclaim it the best.the real joke is you u troll

So did I. What may have happened is, the mfr. got word of our displeasure with the 2012 model, but can't get the revisions in place so soon for the `13 models. Im thinking maybe at 2014 intro time? Think about it; everything people hate about the current Civic takes time and a HUGE input of money for tooling to re-do. Maybe Im way off, but it just doesnt seem likely we can expect 'new and improved' quite so quick as we would like.

Honda can try as much as they want but this POS will never best the Focus. The current Focus absolutely craps over this Civic (as well as any other car in its segment), and the next generation will mop the floor with ANY Honda that will be made in the next 75 years. That includes Acura too, which is just as big of a joke as Honda.

Good maybe we will get a good exciting car this time around. Honda& Toyota have givin us some of the most boaring cars ever over the last 20 years. And when they have tried to push the envelope they have created some of the most fugly and polarizing auto in the last 20 years. Lets hope the NA team can mix style with substance.

ZDX was designed by a young Michelle Christensen, who was a new graduate from the same school of design as Chip Foose. Google her sometime, it was here first and only design for Acura.
Btw, she left Acura and is now a designer for Government Motors.

Considering the ugly boring crap Honda NA has turned out in the last decade under Japanese supervision maybe it's good the next car will be primarily developed by a US team. Although I'm sure the Japanese HQ will still meddle as much as they can.

BAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
This line: "Honda deserves a standing ovation for not playing it safe again." -2006
Oh how the times have changed...
Gah. Either way, I'm glad to see that it will be developed here. Honda America designed the '06 Civic coupe with was a design success, as well as the NSX and new Odyssey. All pretty daring designs. I guess with all of Honda's cards on the table for the near future (Civic, CR-V, and new Accord) we'll just be waiting for the next gen products to show the 'new' Honda. This is just the same 'ol conservative crap we've been fed for the past few years.

A few buddies of mine were hired right out of college by Honda NA and relocated to Ohio. If the next generation Civic Si is a disappointment...I'll be sure to let them feel it. Lol I'm confident about the next generation though. A lot of the people they're bringing in were heavily involved in FSAE. Acceleration, agility, reliability & practicality are probably the biggest attributes that students involved in FSAE were forced to employ for any kind of success during the season. Hopefully, this will transfer over, and assist Honda on getting back to their roots. :-)

The design team doesn't necessarily become immediately responsible. They're given a target design and have to achieve it. I guarantee the ZDX was not their brainchild, but from Acura management itself.

This should have already happen (12 model) a little to late!!!!! An yeah honda does NOT listen to their customers ANYMORE or they would have way better HP in the so called lame ass "Earth Dream"
Engines and a great DCT for the SI but the give us a Shitty CVT! what a joke!
P.S. What the HELL happen to the engineering at HONDA??????????
(2.4L with only 188hp SUCKS!!!!!)